SSB 5282 (State Patrol mental health data base) has passed out of the Senate, but it was amended while there. If the House concurs in the Senate amendment, it goes to Governor Inslee for his signature. If the House does NOT concur, it goes to a conference committee for resolution of differences.

The remaining bills (HBs 1383, 1612, 1840 and SB 5452) must pass out of their second chamber by next Wednesday. All four are awaiting a floor vote.

There are 17 days left in the 2013 regular legislative session. By the State Constitution, the legislature must adjourn no later than midnight, Sunday 28 April. If necessary, the Governor may call a special session to last no more than 30 days to resolve major issues.

At least one pro-gun initiative has been filed with the Secretary of State. A second anti-gun initiative may be filed as well. More on these at the end of the session.

Gun owners in Missouri report a very disturbing development. In 2011 and again in January of this year, the Social Security Administration asked the state of Missouri to turn over to them the complete listing of individuals with a Missouri concealed carry license. The reason? To compare with lists of individuals drawing Social Security Disability payments because of mental illness. One report claims they also asked for and received biometric identifying data of the licensees. (Missouri does not issue a separate concealed pistol license, it places an "endorsement" (code) on the driver's license, although those who don't want this "mark of Cain" on their d/l's can get a separate state ID with the endorsement.)

Our own Dave Workman checked with the Department of Licensing in Olympia, who say no such request has been received by Washington. Maybe not, but it appears Big Brother is spreading his tentacles even further.

I have been told some individuals whose unemployment benefits are running out are applying for SS disability payments due to PTSD related to failed job searches. That might not be such a smart move if you want to keep your guns!

In the other Washington, an attempt was mounted by Senator Rand Paul (R-TN) and more than a dozen other Republicans to filibuster S. 649 and kill the bill from the outset. That filibuster failed when 16 Republicans sided with Democrats on a cloture vote (to allow the bill to proceed to debate and amendment). Two Democrats voted with the remaining 29 Republicans to block the bill. (I'm sure it's just a coincidence that both are from rural states and both up for reelection next year.) In all honesty, the likelihood of a successful filibuster on this bill was slim at best.

From the time of its release in late March, it was clear that S. 649 as filed was in trouble. NRA-A-rated West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin and A-rated Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey to the rescue! They reportedly got together on Manchin's yacht, over drinks, to come up with "acceptable" compromise.

While the "compromise language" has yet to be released, rumors and alleged leaks abound. One section would contain a specific prohibition against using the data collected in background checks for any form of gun registry, but Schumer is reportedly demanding all transfers be processed through a federally-licensed firearms dealer (FFL), and current law requires ALL transfers to be recorded by the dealer. When dealers go out of business, their records are required to be turned over to the ATF. Dealer records (ATF Form 4473 and the dealer's "bound book") contain a full description of the buyer AND the firearm. Another section is supposed to require states to recognize ALL other states' concealed carry licenses (passed last year by the Republican House but ignored by Harry Reid in the Senate), a provision that has gun control advocates and senior law enforcement officials screaming bloody murder.

The cloture vote took place on 11 April, and full debate on the bill will begin on 16 April. The final Senate vote on S. 649 should come by the end of April. It's future in the House is uncertain, but if several Republicans join Democrats to pass it out of the Senate, passage of some form of the bill in the House is likely.

A recent survey of 15,000 active and retired police officers by PoliceOne.com revealed rank and file law enforcement officers nationwide overwhelmingly SUPPORT licensed concealed carry by private citizens. But bureaucrats with badges who "lead" police agencies historically bow to their political masters and oppose most pro-gun measures.

The Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and the Gun Owners Action League are joining with the Leadership Institute to conduct a grassroots training program at the Pierce County Library in Tacoma on Tuesday, 30 April. The evening event will focus on several topics to include the legislative process, persuasive communications, traditional citizen (grassroots) lobbying and "new generation lobbying" -- employing social media and other new methods of outreach.

OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature's web site at "www.leg.wa.gov". Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format. You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe's web site (http://www.adobe.com). You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573. Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000. You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need "RealAudio" to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate "bill reports" (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted. By reading the "roll call" for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill. The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to "jwaldron@halcyon.com". Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights. Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s). PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at "jwaldron@halcyon.com" or by telephone at (425) 985-4867. Unfortunately, I am unable to mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals. Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at "jwaldron@halcyon.com" with the words "Unsubscribe GOAL Post" in the subject line. I will remove your name immediately. Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists. If you received GP via a lit, you must contact that list's admin to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Puyallup 27-28 April

Monroe 4-5 May

"The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men."
Article 1, Section 24
Constitution of the State of Washington

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